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Kansas City Jazz Academy

The American Jazz Museum is proud to present one of Kansas City's premier youth jazz education programs, taught by a faculty of esteemed jazz musicians and jazz educators. The Jazz Academy offers ensemble instruction for middle school and high school students, and a special program for early elementary and preschoolers. Whether your child already plays an instrument, would like to learn an instrument, or is interested in singing--there's a place for them at the Jazz Academy.

Your registration costs help sustain the Jazz Academy program and allow us to support our dedicated instructors! Need based scholarships are available.

COMBOS: Ensemble selection is based on a placement audition which will match students of similar playing ability. Combos generally consist of several horns and a rhythm section consisting of piano, guitar, band and drums. Other instruments can be considered. Students will study songs from The Great American Songbook. Styles include swing, Latin, blues, waltz, etc.

This summer, we will be presenting classes in a virtual format, in our effort to keep students and teachers safe, as we continue to understand the impacts of Coronavirus. Each teacher may have a different format for lesson plans and instruction. Please e-mail Clarence at csmith@kcjazz.org with any questions.

Vine Street Combo

Saturdays, June 6th - July 11, 2020 from 1:00-3:00pm

For band students with at least one year of experience. This class helps students secure a basic foundation of instrumental playing. Note reading, tone, rhythm, basic swing style, are some of the concepts learned. Improvisation is not the primary focus but is introduced. Registration is $20. Placement audition information is below.

12th Street Combo

Saturdays, June 6th - July 11, 2020 from 1:00-3:00pm

Placement audition will determine assignment in to this combo. Students will continue to explore the fundamentals of ensemble play while also studying improvisation in common jazz song forms and chord progressions. Registration is $20. Placement audition information is below.

18th Street Combo

Saturdays, June 6th - July 11, 2020 from 1:00-3:00pm

This ensemble represents the highest level of musicianship and includes students who have achieved beyond an elementary and intermediate understanding of jazz styles, reading and improvisation. This group has the honor of representing the American Jazz Museum and the City of Kansas City in many performance opportunities. As with the others, placement audition will determine ensemble assignment. Registration is $20. Placement audition information is below.

Vocal Jazz

Saturdays, June 6th - July 11, 2020 from 12:00-2:00pm

Do you want to be a jazz vocalist? Have you always wanted to learn the basics of songwriting? Are you ready to learn about the rich legacy of jazz, blues and R&B music? If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you are ready for Vocal Jazz classes. This class for middle and high school age students allows young singers an opportunity to hone their vocal ability while learning the specifics of the jazz style. Registration is $20.

Piano Class

*please note, the piano class is not currently being offered for the Summer 2020 session*

Piano class offers experienced and beginner students an opportunity to learn and explore jazz styles, theory, and technique. This class is open to elementary, middle, and high school students. Class capped at 10 students. Registration is $20.

Placement Requirements for Combos

Wind Instruments (saxophones, trumpets, trombones)

1. One prepared piece of choice that may or may not include improvisation

2. Sight-reading

3. Improvisation over F or Bb blues changes (optional)

Rhythm Section Instruments (piano, guitar, vibes and bass)

1. One prepared piece of choice that may or may not include improvisation

2. Sight-reading

3. Comping and improvisation over F or Bb blues changes

Drum Set

1. One prepared piece of choice that may or may not include improvisation

2. Sight-reading

3. Trading 4’s

4. Be required to play the following grooves - Swing, Funk/Rock, Latin

You may register and pay online, or if you prefer, register in the Swing Shop at the Museum.

If you have questions or would like more information about the Jazz Academy, contact Clarence Smith, program director, at 816-682-2935, or csmith@kcjazz.org.

KCJA STAFF

Clarence Smith- Director of KCJA

Clarence Smith is a Kansas City-based professional musician and music educator. He is coordinator/instructor of music at Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley campus, with specific expertise in jazz education, percussion, and music appreciation. Smith is a frequent guest director of honors jazz ensembles, and is in demand as a jazz/percussion clinician and adjudicator. He is director of the annual three-day 18th and Vine Student Jazz Festival.

As a drummer, Smith is an active participant in the Kansas City music scene where he can be heard performing in a variety of genres including jazz, classical, musical theatre, and R&B and other pop styles.

Stan Kessler- Advanced Combo Co-Director

Stan Kessler is a Trumpet/Flugelhorn player, band leader, clinician, and educator in the Kansas City area. He also does extensive writing and arranging for small groups. Stan plays drums and hand percussion. He has maintained adjunct positions at UMKC and Missouri Western State University in jazz trumpet, theory and improvisation, and music business classes. For 7 years, Stan has been a faculty member of Kansas City Youth Jazz, now Kansas City Jazz Academy. He has been teaching jazz improvisation and theory privately for 29 years.

Joe Miquelon- Advanced Combo Co-Director

Joe Miquelon has 40+ years experience teaching and performing professionally as a Saxophonist and Keyboardist, touring the USA, Canada, and Europe extensively in a wide variety of musical settings and styles. While still performing locally and regionally, Joe continues to teach as a private instructor and clinician in the Kansas City area at Bentley Guitar Studios, the Village Music Academy (formerly the Toon Shop), and Kansas City Jazz Academy. His private teaching methods include traditional approaches, as well as jazz improvisation, traditional to jazz theory, rhythm and blues, and gospel as a private teacher.

Matt Baldwin- Intermediate Combo Director

Baldwin graduated summa cum laude as a member of the Honors College from the University of Missouri - Kansas City, where he earned his Master's in Jazz Studies and his Bachelor's in Jazz Performance. Throughout the years, he has had the privilege of studying with music mentors Bobby Watson (UMKC Co-Chair of Jazz Studies), Dan Thomas (UMKC Co-Chair of Jazz Studies), Matt Otto (KU Professor of Saxophone), Hugh Jones (High School Band Director in St. Louis), John Brewer (New Orleans Musician/Worship Pastor in Kansas City), and James Ward (Gospel Musician/Worship Pastor in Chattanooga).

As a performer, Baldwin captivates audiences with his lively playing on all saxophones and other woodwind instruments. In addition to leading the Matt Baldwin Saxophone Quartet, Baldwin Soul Septet, and co-leading the Westport Jazz Orchestra, he has performed with numerous Kansas City ensembles including the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, the New Jazz Order Big Band, the 627 Foundation Big Band, Boogaloo 7, the Chris Hazelton Quartet, the Diles Mavis Group, and Julian Vaughn. Besides performing at jazz venues, festivals, and weddings, he has been the Reed 1 player for musical theater shows at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the New Theatre Restaurant, Quality Hill Playhouse, and Musical Theater Heritage. Among others, Baldwin has shared the stage with the New York Voices, the Four Tops, and Michael Feinstein.

Osmond Fisher- Beginning Combo Director

Osmond Fisher has over twenty years experience teaching and building successful high school band programs. He started his career at John F. Kennedy High School in Cleveland, Ohio from 1996 – 2005, starting a program that grew to over 100 members in just a couple of years. Mr. Fisher relocated to the Kansas City Area and has continued to teach at various schools in the district since 2007. Mr. Fisher has a Bachelor of Music degree from Central State University in Ohio and a Masters of Arts in Music Education from the University of Central Missouri. He has been acknowledged by the National Association for Music Education (MENC) as one of Kansas City’s most dedicated teachers.

James Taylor- Piano Instructor

James Taylor was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. He attended Paseo High School of the Fine and Performances, majoring in vocal music. In high school, James played football, basketball, and ran track. He attended Lincoln University on a football scholarship. At Lincoln, he studied music education. James has been a music teacher since 2015 when he taught at Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy. In addition to Kansas City Jazz Academy, he currently teaches 2nd grade at KIPP KC.

Lisa Henry- Director of Little Jazz Laboratory and Vocal Jazz

International jazz vocalist, jazz educator, clinician, program developer and artistic director, Lisa Henry, is a combination of swingin’ cool and down home class. Her professional jazz career began in the nightclubs of Kansas City, MO at age 17. She was mentored by the great Hammond B-3 player, Everette DeVan, and cut her big band “teeth” performing with the Vince Bilardo Big Band and Steve Miller Orchestra. As a jazz educator, Lisa Henry takes the legacy and brilliance of jazz into classrooms and onto college campuses across the globe. Through interactive classroom and assembly programs, vocal clinics, music business workshops and performance adjudications, her teaching reaches students from preschool age to university level students.

Charles D. Williams is a Kansas City musician, pianist, former trombonist, band leader, private piano instructor, producer, writer, and clinician/educator. Charles is current pianist for the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra and has been since its beginning in 2003. As a performer, Charles plays at many local venues with his own trio, and has accompanied many local vocalist. Mr. Williams is very dedicated to supporting the American Jazz Museum & Blue Room, and was recently added to the AJM Board.